Estimate Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
An estimate is a rough calculation or judgment of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something. e.g., The contractor gave us an estimate for the kitchen remodel.
Table of Contents
Estimate Definitions
Time Allocation: An approximation of the time required to complete a task or project.
She made a quick estimate of the time needed to finish the report.
Population Count: A rough calculation of the number of individuals in a group or area.
The census provided an estimate of the city's population.
Project Planning: An early calculation of the resources needed for a project.
The project manager drew up an estimate of required materials.
Market Analysis: An evaluation of potential market size or value.
Marketers often have to estimate the demand for a new product.
Resource Estimation: Predicting the quantity of resources needed for an activity.
The event planner made an estimate of the food and drinks needed.
Risk Assessment: An estimation of the potential risks involved in an endeavor.
Risk managers estimate the likelihood of different scenarios.
Financial Projection: A calculated approximation of future costs or revenues.
The company's budget was based on an estimate of annual sales.
Measurement Approximation: An educated guess of a physical quantity when precise measurement is not possible.
He made an estimate of the room's dimensions by eye.
Environmental Impact: An approximation of the effect a project may have on the environment.
Environmental scientists estimate the impact of logging on the forest ecosystem.
To calculate approximately (the amount, extent, magnitude, position, or value of something).
To form an opinion about; evaluate
"While an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance" (Samuel Johnson).
A tentative evaluation or rough calculation, as of worth, quantity, or size
An estimate of the damage caused by the storm.
A statement of the approximate cost of work to be done, such as a building project or car repairs.
A judgment based on one's impressions; an opinion
I have a high estimate of his character.
A rough calculation or assessment of the value, size, or cost of something.
(construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job is likely to cost.
An upper limitation on some positive quantity.
To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.
To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data, - either the extrinsic (money), or intrinsic (moral), value; to fix the worth of roughly or in a general way; as, to estimate the value of goods or land; to estimate the worth or talents of a person.
It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them.
It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living.
To from an opinion of, as to amount,, number, etc., from imperfect data, comparison, or experience; to make an estimate of; to calculate roughly; to rate; as, to estimate the cost of a trip, the number of feet in a piece of land.
A valuing or rating by the mind, without actually measuring, weighing, or the like; rough or approximate calculation; as, an estimate of the cost of a building, or of the quantity of water in a pond.
Weigh success in a moral balance, and our whole estimate is changed.
No; dear as freedom is, and in my heart'sJust estimation prized above all price.
An approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth;
An estimate of what it would cost
A rough idea how long it would take
A judgment of the qualities of something or somebody;
Many factors are involved in any estimate of human life
In my estimation the boy is innocent
A document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)
A statement indicating the likely cost of some job;
He got an estimate from the car repair shop
The respect with which a person is held;
They had a high estimation of his ability
Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);
I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds
Judge to be probable
Construction Costing: An approximation of the expenses involved in building or renovation.
Before starting the work, the builder provided a detailed cost estimate.
Estimate Snonyms
Evaluate
Form an idea of the amount, number, or value of; assess.
It's difficult to evaluate the success of the new policy so soon.
Gauge
Estimate or determine the magnitude, amount, or volume of.
Astronomers can gauge the distance of stars from Earth.
Calculate
Determine (the amount or number of something) mathematically.
Use the formula to calculate the volume of the cylinder.
Appraise
Assess the value or quality of.
The house was appraised at a much higher value than expected.
Judge
Form an opinion or conclusion about.
It's hard to judge the impact of the new law at this stage.
Assess
Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of.
The damages were assessed by an insurance adjuster.
Reckon
Conclude after calculation; be of the opinion.
He reckons that the market is due for a correction.
Value
Estimate the monetary worth of (something).
The painting was valued at $5,000.
Quantify
Express or measure the quantity of.
Researchers are trying to quantify the effect of the drug.
Surmise
Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it.
I surmise that the painting is a forgery, but further analysis is needed.
Estimate Idioms & Phrases
Estimate the damage
To assess or evaluate the extent or cost of harm or destruction.
After the storm, homeowners had to estimate the damage to their properties.
Close estimate
A calculation or guess that is very near to the actual amount or value.
His close estimate of the crowd size impressed the event organizers.
On-the-spot estimate
An immediate calculation made without the aid of detailed analysis or tools.
The mechanic gave an on-the-spot estimate for the car repair from his initial assessment.
Rough estimate
An approximate calculation made with a limited amount of information.
The contractor provided a rough estimate of the repair costs, pending a more detailed inspection.
Ballpark estimate
A very general calculation of value, cost, or size that is not exact but gives a basic idea.
Before starting the project, they asked for a ballpark estimate to understand the potential financial commitment.
Lower estimate
The lowest potential amount in a range of calculations.
Even the lower estimate of the expenses was beyond what we had budgeted for the project.
Estimate the impact
To assess the effect or consequence of an action or event.
Scientists are trying to estimate the impact of the new legislation on climate change.
Revised estimate
An updated calculation that replaces an earlier estimate, usually with more accurate or current information.
After receiving the engineer's report, they issued a revised estimate for the bridge repair.
Estimate the odds
To make a guess about the likelihood or probability of an event occurring.
Before placing a bet, he tried to estimate the odds of his team winning.
Conservative estimate
A calculation that purposely errs on the side of caution, often underestimating rather than overestimating.
The budget for the event was based on a conservative estimate of attendees to ensure costs would not exceed available funds.
Estimate the value
To determine the worth or price of something, often in financial terms.
The appraiser was called to estimate the value of the antique furniture.
Range estimate
A calculation that provides a minimum and maximum figure to encompass possible variations.
The project manager provided a range estimate to account for potential delays.
Upper estimate
The highest potential amount in a range of calculations.
The upper estimate of the project's cost made the committee hesitant to proceed without further review.
Estimate the cost
To calculate the financial expenditure required for a task or project.
Before committing to the home renovation, they had to carefully estimate the cost.
Initial estimate
The first calculation or assessment made before any work begins.
The initial estimate did not take into account the unexpected rise in material costs.
Estimate the time
To gauge how long it will take to complete a task or reach a destination.
Can you estimate the time it will take to drive to the city center during rush hour?
Detailed estimate
A calculation that includes a thorough breakdown of all expected costs and requirements.
The architect provided a detailed estimate that itemized every aspect of the construction.
Off-the-mark estimate
A calculation that turns out to be incorrect or inaccurate.
The off-the-mark estimate of the election results left the analysts puzzled.
Estimate the effort
To judge the amount of work or energy required to accomplish a task.
Before agreeing to lead the project, she tried to estimate the effort it would entail.
Estimate at a glance
To make a quick judgment or calculation based on a brief look or examination.
She could estimate at a glance how much fabric would be needed for the curtains.
Estimate Example Sentences
Can you give me an estimate of the costs involved?
They needed to estimate how much paint to buy for the house.
The mechanic's estimate for the car repair seemed reasonable.
Our initial estimate was too low, requiring budget adjustments.
We use historical data to estimate future trends.
The teacher asked us to estimate the number of candies in the jar.
Can you estimate the distance we've traveled?
To estimate the crowd size, they used aerial photographs.
Parents estimate how much time children spend on homework.
It's important to regularly update project cost estimates.
It's difficult to estimate the outcome of the experiment.
The software provides an estimate of energy savings.
She gave an estimate of two weeks to complete the work.
The app helps users estimate their daily calorie intake.
The estimate included both labor and materials costs.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide estimate into syllables?
Estimate is divided into syllables as es-ti-mate.
How is estimate used in a sentence?
As a noun: "The contractor gave us an estimate for the repairs." As a verb: "We need to estimate the cost before we start the project."
How many syllables are in estimate?
There are three syllables in estimate.
What is the verb form of estimate?
The verb form is "estimate," as in "to estimate something."
What is the second form of estimate?
The second form (simple past) is "estimated."
Why is it called estimate?
It is called an estimate because it refers to an approximate calculation or judgment of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something, derived from the Latin word "aestimare," meaning to value or appraise.
What is a stressed syllable in estimate?
The stress is on the first syllable, "es," when used as a noun (EST-imate), and often on the second syllable, "ti," when used as a verb (es-TI-mate), though this can vary by regional dialect.
What is the root word of estimate?
The root word of estimate is the Latin "aestimare," meaning to value or appraise.
What is the third form of estimate?
The third form (past participle) is "estimated."
Is estimate a noun or adjective?
Estimate is primarily a noun and a verb, but not an adjective.
Is estimate a negative or positive word?
Estimate is neutral; it does not inherently convey a negative or positive connotation.
Is estimate a countable noun?
Yes, estimate is a countable noun (e.g., several estimates).
Is the estimate term a metaphor?
Estimate can be used metaphorically in some contexts to represent a guess or rough calculation about non-quantitative matters.
What is the pronunciation of estimate?
As a noun: /ˈɛstɪmət/ . As a verb: /ˈɛstɪˌmeɪt/
What is the first form of estimate?
The first (base) form is "estimate."
Is estimate an adverb?
No, estimate is not an adverb.
Is the word estimate is imperative?
Yes, estimate can be used in the imperative mood in sentences like "Please estimate the time required."
Is the word estimate Gerund?
The gerund form of estimate is "estimating."
What is the singular form of estimate?
The singular form is "estimate."
Is estimate an abstract noun?
Yes, when used as a noun, estimate can be considered abstract as it refers to an approximate calculation, not a physical object.
Which preposition is used with estimate?
Common prepositions used with "estimate" include "of" (an estimate of the cost) and "for" (an estimate for the project).
Which conjunction is used with estimate?
Conjunctions like "and," "or," and "but" can be used in sentences involving "estimate."
What part of speech is estimate?
Estimate can be both a noun (referring to an approximate calculation) and a verb (the act of making an approximate calculation).
What is the plural form of estimate?
The plural form is "estimates."
Is estimate a collective noun?
No, estimate is not a collective noun.
What is another term for estimate?
Another term for estimate could be "approximation" or "assessment."
What is the opposite of estimate?
The opposite of estimate could be "exact calculation" or "precise measurement."
Is estimate a vowel or consonant?
This question doesn't apply to the word "estimate" as a whole; it pertains to individual letters.
Is the word “estimate” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Estimate" can serve as a direct object in a sentence, e.g., "He provided an estimate."
Which determiner is used with estimate?
Determiners such as "an," "the," or "this" can be used with estimate, depending on the context.
Which vowel is used before estimate?
The article "an" is used before estimate when it functions as a noun, due to the vowel sound at the beginning of the word when pronounced as /ˈɛstɪmət/.
Which article is used with estimate?
Both "an" (before a vowel sound) and "the" can be used with "estimate" depending on whether it refers to a specific estimate or an estimate in general, e.g., "an estimate" or "the estimate."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
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Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
